Biography of Wesley C. Brents - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 51

Wesley C. Brents, one of the representative citizens of Nichols Township, owes
his nativity to Perry County, Tennessee, where he was born October 23, 1847. His
parents, Joshua M. and Elizabeth (Maxwell) Brents, were of old pioneer families
of Tennessee, where they were also born. This union was the result of eleven
children, six now living, and all reside in Arkansas. Mr. Brents and family
emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1851, and located in Conway County. He
followed the occupation of farmer in the main, but had learned the trade of
cooper and also worked at that to some extent. He was a member of the Masonic
fraternity and quite an influential and progressive man of that time. He died
December 3, 1863, but his wife lived many years after and died in 1881. They had
long been members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wesley Brents, the subject of
this sketch, received but a limited education, in consequence of growing up
during the war. When he had reached the age of 17 years he enlisted in the
Federal army, Company B, 3d Arkansas Regiment, under Col. Ryan. He was in
several minor engagements and skirmishes, all in Arkansas. He served till the
war ended, and on July 20, 1865, returned home and at once began life for
himself, by engaging in farming, with two horses, and a cow and calf as stock,
and with which he laid the foundation of his present success. In 1868 he married
Millie A. Frazier, a native of Mississippi. To this union have been born seven
children, named James W., Robert W., John M., Noah S., Minnie M, Logan B. and
Benjamin H. Mr. Brent is one of the successful farmers of Nichols Township; he
owns 200 acres of land, with 120 under cultivation, with fruit orchard and many
improvements, and well-stocked. He is a member of Cleveland Lodge. No. 473, A.
F. and A. M., in which he has held office. He is always prominent in the
advocacy of reforms, schools, churches, etc. He and family are members of M. E.
Church, South.